Bill Text: CA SB1352 | 2019-2020 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Gas corporations: renewable gas procurement.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-05-12 - Referral to Com. on EQ. rescinded due to the shortened 2020 Legislative Calendar. [SB1352 Detail]
Download: California-2019-SB1352-Amended.html
|
Amended
IN
Senate
April 03, 2020 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1352
| Introduced by Senator Hueso |
February 21, 2020 |
An act to amend Section 651 of Sections 650 and 651 of, and to amend the heading of Article 10 (commencing with Section 650) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of, the Public Utilities Code, relating to energy.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1352, as amended, Hueso.
Gas corporations: biomethane renewable gas procurement.
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law requires the commission to adopt policies and programs that promote the in-state production and distribution of biomethane, as defined, that facilitate the development of a variety of sources of in-state biomethane. law, relative to restructuring of the gas industry, requires the commission to require each gas corporation to provide bundled basic gas service to all core customers in its service territory unless the customer chooses or contracts to have natural gas purchased and supplied by another entity. Existing law requires the commission, in consultation
with the State Air Resources Board, to consider adopting specific biomethane procurement targets or goals for each gas corporation, as specified. Existing law requires that prior to establishing biomethane procurement targets or goals, that the commission find that the targets or goals are cost-effective means to achieving forecast reduction in emissions of short-lived climate pollutants pursuant to specified laws and that the targets or goals comply with all applicable state and federal laws.
This bill would require the commission to establish a biomethane renewable gas, as defined, procurement program that requires each gas corporation,
corporation to procure renewable gas in an amount so that, by January 1, 2030, to procure at least 20 percent of its the total volume of gas delivered to core customers in California with biomethane. by that gas corporation is renewable gas. The bill would require the commission, in designing and implementing the program, to ensure that the biomethane
renewable gas procurement program is a cost-effective means to achieve forecast reductions in emissions of short-lived climate pollutants pursuant to specified laws and that the program complies with all applicable state and federal laws.
Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime.
Because the provisions of this bill would be a part of the act and because a violation of an order or decision of the commission implementing its requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program by creating a new crime.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The heading of Article 10 (commencing with Section 650) of Chapter 3 of Part 1 of Division 1 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:
Article
10. Biomethane Renewable Gas Procurement
SEC. 2.
Section 650 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:650.
For purposes of this article,(a) “Biomethane” means a biogas that meets the standards adopted pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 25421 of the Health and Safety Code for injection into a common carrier gas pipeline.
(b) “Renewable gas” means gas that meets the standards adopted pursuant to subdivisions (c) and (d) of Section 25421 of the Health and Safety Code for injection into a common-carrier gas pipeline, that is any of the following:
(1) Biomethane.
(2) Gas derived from biomass conversion consistent with Section 40106 of the Public Resources Code.
(3) Green electrolytic hydrogen, as defined in Section 400.2, or hydrogen derived from catalytic cracking or steam methane reforming of biomethane that does not meet the standards for injection into the common carrier gas pipelines.
(4) Gas derived or generated by an eligible renewable energy resource meeting the requirements of the California Renewables
Portfolio Standard Program (Article 16 (commencing with Section 399.11) of Chapter 2.3).
(5) Any other form of renewable gas as determined by the commission in consultation with the State Air Resources Board.
SECTION 1.SEC. 3.
Section 651 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:651.
(a) The commission, in consultation with the State Air Resources Board, shall establish a(1) That the biomethane renewable gas
procurement program is a cost-effective means of achieving the state’s climate and clean energy goals, including the forecast reduction in the emissions of short-lived climate pollutants pursuant to Section 39730.5 of the Health and Safety Code and other greenhouse gases pursuant to Division 25.5 (commencing with Section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) That the biomethane renewable gas procurement program complies with all applicable state and federal laws.
(b) When adopting specific biomethane
renewable gas procurement requirements for each gas corporation pursuant to subdivision (a), the commission shall do all of the following:
(1) Consider the recommendations developed pursuant to Section 39730.8 of the Health and Safety Code.
(2) Ensure the requirements are consistent with the organic waste disposal reduction targets specified in Section 39730.6 of the Health and Safety Code and the regulations adopted pursuant to Section 42652.5 of the Public Resources Code to achieve those targets.
(3) Ensure that biomethane
renewable gas
eligible for any procurement program meets one of the following conditions:
(A) The biomethane renewable gas is delivered to California through a dedicated pipeline.
(B) The biomethane renewable gas is delivered to California through a common carrier gas pipeline and meets both of the following requirements:
(i) The source of biomethane
renewable gas injects the biomethane renewable gas into a common carrier gas pipeline that physically flows within California, or toward the end user in California for which the biomethane renewable gas
was produced.
(ii) The seller or purchaser of the biomethane renewable gas demonstrates that the capture or production of biomethane renewable gas directly results in at least one of the following environmental benefits to California:
(I) The reduction or avoidance of the emission of any criteria air pollutant, toxic air contaminant, or greenhouse gas in California.
(II) The reduction or avoidance of pollutants that could have an adverse impact on waters of the state.
(III) The alleviation of a local nuisance within California that is associated with the emission of odors.
(4) Consider the potential for using excess or off-grid electricity from eligible renewable energy resources to generate renewable gas and decarbonize the gas system.
